Degrees

Teaching Interests

Psychology of Religion

Philosophical Psychology

Research Interests

Psychology of Religion

Philosophical Psychology

Religious Serpent Handling

Dr. Ralph Hood and his Psychology of Religion Lab at the University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga and the Experimental Labs of Dr. Jeff Larsen and Dr. Mike Olson at the
University of Tennessee, Knoxville received a grant from the John Templeton Foundation
for $253,305.00 to study the conditions that determine how Americans image Jesus.

Dr. Christopher Silver, a UTC graduate and former adjunct professor, with degrees
in psychology, religious studies, and Educational Leadership, will direct the research
from Knoxville and coordinate with Thomas Coleman III, a graduate student in the Research
Masters in Psychology Program at UTC, who will direct the research from UTC.

This is the first cooperative grant between psychologists at UTK and UTC, which will
help foster coordinated research in the psychology of religion between the campuses.